How to restart a Windows computer in 3 different ways, to speed up performance and solve software or connection issues

• You should restart your Windows computer periodically to retain your computer system's health and routine processes.
• If you don't restart often enough, your computer is more liable to freeze, slow down, or glitch.
• There are three ways you can restart your computer using your device's power button, keyboard commands, and Start menu.

If you're like many people out there, you probably don't shut down or restart your computer as often as you should.

But despite how easy it is to put your computer in Sleep mode once you're done with it for the day, it's essential to restart your computer at least once a week.

While it seems like a time-suck, restarting your computer helps it to run more smoothly. A restart can flush your computer's memory, shutting down or updating programs that, in turn, free up your computer's processor.

How to restart your Windows computer

There are a few different ways to shut down or restart on a Windows computer, and some may not always work depending on how it's running. Below is a list of them, so whatever your situation, you have an option for getting your computer restarted.

Use the on-screen Start button

This is the most standard method for shutting down or restarting a Windows computer. Using the Start button, you can choose to restart your entire computer, effectively closing all your running apps, or shut your computer down and turn it back on. Selecting shut down will do all of the above outside of powering back up again. Here's how to do both.

1. Click the Start button in the lower-left corner of your screen. You can also press the Windows key on your keyboard to open the Start menu.

2. Choose the Power icon.

3. When you click the power button, you will have the option to put your computer to sleep, restart it, or power it down.

Use Ctrl + Alt + Delete

This method only requires using the keyboard. It's likely your best option if your applications freeze or your computer's processing speeds take a sudden dip.

1. On your computer keyboard, hold down the control (Ctrl), alternate (Alt), and delete (Del) keys at the same time.

2. Release the keys and wait for a new menu or window to appear.

3. In the bottom right corner of the screen, click the Power icon.

4. Select between Shut Down and Restart.

Use the power button

This method is best for when your computer has frozen entirely. A forced shutdown is not always great for your system, but if even Ctrl+Alt+Delete doesn't work, this will.

Somewhere on your computer — depending on what kind you have — there is a power button. Laptop users can likely find it on the left or right side of their device. You may also find it in the upper left, center, or right-hand corners of your keyboard. On desktop computers, you'll likely find the power button on your vertical or horizontal tower.

When your shutdown and restart is complete, you may be able to open any applications you had open when your computer shut down and recover the files you didn't get a chance to save. Here's how to restart your Windows computer using the power button.

1. Locate your computer's Power button.

2. Press and hold that button until your computer shuts down.

3. Wait until you hear the computer's fans shut off, and your screen goes completely black.

4. Wait a few seconds before pressing and holding the power button to initiate your computer's normal startup.

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